South Sudan's caretaker minister for East African Community Affairs, Michael Makuei Lueth, has warned that drafting a constitution for a proposed East African Community political confederation will be a lengthy process. Makuei made the remarks at the launch of national consultations on the proposed confederation in Juba on Thursday. He drew on his country's own difficulties in completing a permanent constitution. The consultations aim to gather views on key issues, including funding, constitution adoption, and areas of cooperation among member states.
Makuei, a former justice minister, cited South Sudan's experience in drafting a permanent constitution, saying the country struggled to complete the process within set timelines under its revitalised peace agreement. The peace agreement was extended twice to allow the constitutional process to be completed, but the government eventually removed the permanent constitution requirement for holding elections. Makuei urged constitutional experts not to underestimate the task of drafting a constitution for the EAC confederation.
The consultations are part of EAC efforts to establish a political confederation as a transitional model towards the bloc's longer-term goal of political federation. EAC Secretary-General Stephen Patrick Mbundi said the constitution could not be developed by governments and experts alone and called for citizens' views across member states to be reflected in the process. Mbundi said South Sudan is the fifth EAC partner state to hold consultations, after Burundi, Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda.
The consultations in South Sudan will continue for two weeks in Juba, Rumbek, Wau, and Bor. Constitutional experts will examine different models of confederation, review the EAC Treaty and protocols, gather public views, and prepare a draft constitution based on the agreed model. Makuei said the EAC process should begin with broad consultations involving communities and stakeholders before their views are harmonised into an initial draft.
Makuei emphasised that constitution making is not an event, but a process that will take time. He said the initial draft will be the beginning of another consultation. The EAC aims to establish a political confederation as a stepping stone towards a political federation. The proposed confederation will require a constitution that outlines its structure, powers, and functions.
The EAC has been working towards a political federation, with a confederation as a transitional model. The bloc has made progress in recent years, with the establishment of a customs union and a common market. However, the proposed confederation will require a more integrated political structure. The consultations will help identify areas of cooperation among member states and inform the drafting of the constitution.
The national consultations in South Sudan will inform the country's position on the proposed EAC confederation. The outcome of the consultations will contribute to the development of a draft constitution for the confederation. The EAC hopes to finalise the constitution and establish the confederation in the near future.
Key points
- South Sudan's caretaker minister for East African Community Affairs, Michael Makuei Lueth, warns against rushing the drafting of a constitution for the proposed East African Community political confederation.
- The consultations in South Sudan are part of EAC efforts to establish a political confederation as a transitional model towards the bloc's longer-term goal of political federation.
- The proposed EAC confederation will require a constitution that outlines its structure, powers, and functions.
